Collapsible card file



Oct. 10, 1950 J. G. EDDY 2,524,955

= COLLAPSIBLE CARD FILE Filed June 5, 1947 v 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 b A STOP :l- L

I PERSONAL J PERSONAL :1 V

J J J 71? J j \Assocmnous J J \BANK J J cauzcu J J oLLEcT +5 J ASSOCIATIONS J J BANK J R J CHURCH J J COLLECT J\ 4? J J\%0\ j 3 wME J J LINSURANCE J J L J J L J HOME J J INSURANCE J J J k J J J J L J k J j v \SELL J @IRITE J IMMEDIATE J 1%} J ssu. J .Zmvemivr WRITE IMMEDIATE Oct. 10, 1950 J. G. EDDY v COLLAPSIBLE CARD FILE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 5, 1947 EN mammfiammaaamafim Aifiarneys Patented Oct. 10, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,524,965 COLLAPSIBLE CARD FILE John G. may, St. Paul, Minn.

Application June 5, 1947, Serial No. 752,796

This invention relates to file structures and more particularly to collapsible pocket files adapted'to contain information which is readily accessible to the user.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a collapsible pocket file which is capable of incorporating a number of movably interconnected card elements which can be shifted from a vertically stacked position inside of a concealing cover to a stepped stacked position which renders individual cards easily accessible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a collapsible card file wherein certain of the cards or portions thereof can be extended to points outside of the cover for ready perusal and wherein others of the cards are retained in a concealed manner within the cover, the latter cards being reserved for confidential information and exposable only upon opening of the cover.

A further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible card file wherein the slidably interconnected cards can be shifted to expose most of them outside of the cover in which they are normally carried and wherein the cards are so interconnected that one or more cards can be swung over the edge 'of the cover so that one entire surface of the card is exposed to view with- V out interference with the next adjacent card inthe stack.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a collapsible card file such as mentioned in the'preceding paragraph wherein certain of the cards are retained within the cover and are not swingable'over the edge of the cover, and wherein one or more of the cards which is swingable about the edge of the cover is provided with a warning device to indicate the proximity'of those cards which cannot be so swung about the cover and thus prevent the stack of cards from being forcibly disconnected.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide easily assembled cheaply manufactured card structure which permits the cards to be slidably interconnected without danger of acc dental disconnection in ordinary use.

The above and. other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like refer-.

ence characters refer to the same parts throughout the views, and, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the article in its closed position;

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the file 3 Claims. (Cl. 129-165) 2 v with the cards in their stepped position and portions of the cover broken away;

Figure 3 is a rear elevational view of the device with the cards extended and certain of them swung over and depending from the upper edge of the cover;

Figure 4 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken approximately on the line 55 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of the cover showing one of its inner walls and the face of a stack of cards secured thereto;

Figure '7 is a plan view of a single card;

Figure 8 is a section taken approximatelycon the line 88 of Figure 6;

Figure 9 is a plan view of a pair of interconnected cards showing an improved locking means;

Figure 10 is a section taken approximately on the line Ill-l0 of Figure 9; and

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a card connector and locking element.

In Figures 1 through 3 there is shown a cover A by a separable fastener l2.

' In Figure 6 there is shown a portion of the a cover A which is provided on its inner side with a Window pocket 13 having a transparent portion It The window pocket I3 is secured to the inner side of the cover A by means of a line of stitching l5.

Also in Figure 6 is shown a file card l6 having 7 a side tongue I! which extends beneath the window portion [3 and is secured by means of the line of stitching I 5. The card It is provided with a pair of spaced elongated slots 58 and the card is preferably foldable along a line 19. In Figure 7 there is shown an index card 2!] which has slots 2! similar to the slots It in the cards H6. The card 20 is provided with a lateral extension 22 and a pair of oppositely extending tongues 23. A fold line 24 is located between the card body 2% and'the lateral extension 22. The tongues 23 are adapted to extend through the slots I 8 in the first card [6 and, as shown, the widths of the tongues 23 are less than the lengths of the slots l8, thereby permitting the card 25 to be shifted to a stepped position relative to the card I6 as indicated in Figure 6. As shown in Figures 6 and 8 the tongues 23 of the card 20 are bent over and connected by a str'ip'25 which may be adhesively secured to the tongues 23.

Each succeeding index card is identical with the card 28 and it may or may not have its tongues 23 bent over and connected by a connector strip 25 as just described.

As shown in Figure 3 the successive index cards 26 are not locked by a connector strip 25 but the tongues 23 merely extend through the slots 2! in outwardly opposite directions.

As indicated in Figures 2 and 4 the slidabiy interconnected index cards can be shifted from a vertically stacked position to a stepped stacked position and, as best shown in Figure 2, when in such a stepped position, the lower edges of the cards 20 are exposed so that their classification indicia is visible. Consequently, the user can at a glance determine which card he wishes to refer to and when that card is located by the eye the cards above it can be swung upwardly about their fold lines 24 to expose the entire upper surface of the index card to be referred to.

In Figures 3 and 5 there is shown another manner in which the index can be used. The cards can be pulled vertically from the upper sides and swung downwardly about the upper edge of the cover A so that the uppermost card which is turned downwardly to the right of Figure 5 will remain in view.

For the sake of convenience in moving the cards to a stacked position the lowermost card shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is provided with a tongue 2% so that the entire stack can be pulled out.

In Figure 3 it will be noted that the upwardly extending card designated as Zita has the Word stop printed on its reverse side. This indicates that no additional cards beyond the stop card can be folded over the upper edge of the cover A, and those cards beyond said stop card are kept within the confines of the cover. In a practical application of the invention the latter mentioned cards can be reserved for confidential information so that they can be exposed only after the cover A has been opened.

In Figures 9 and 10 one of the cards 2%] is shown having its tongues 23 extending through the slots 25 in the next adjacent card, said tongues extending outwardly in opposite directions in the same manner as indicated in Figure 3. In Figure 11 there is shown a locking element in the form of a strip 27 of paper or other suitable material having its ends 27a folded upon the body of the strip. An adhesive strip is placed about the folded-over portions of the strip 2? to provide pockets at the ends of the locking strip having openings 29 which face each other and in which the tongues 23 are receivable. The tongues are inserted by bending them and slipping them into the pockets The locking element 2? will more securely connect the individual cards so that they will not become readily displaced or disconnected in ordinary use.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided a compact yet readily accessible collapsible card file which can conveniently be carried in ones pocket and which is capable of accommodating a relatively large number of separate card elements. The structure is so formed that the cards are readily slidable relative to each other within limits to expose identifying portions of individual cards while retaining them in their connected condition, but the cards can be readily disconnected to permit the insertion of new cards or replacement of cards which have become unfit for further use for any reason.

Most of the cards have at least portions thereof exposable outside of the cover While a few of the cards are retained in the cover and adapted to carry confidential information which is accessible 5 only when the cover itself is opened.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What I claim is:

l. A pocket card file comprising a cover including interconnected substantially coextensive panels normall disposed in overlying relationship and a plurality of cards interconnected in series disposed between and spacing the panels, said cards having dimensions less than the dimensions of the panels and normally being concealed thereby, means hingedly interconnecting the cards to each other along one edge and including means providing for longitudinal movement of one card relative to another away from said edge to extend the series of cards, said interconnecting means permitting the cards to normally overlie one another in stacked formation within the panels, means connecting the card at one end of the series to the inner walls of one panel, so that upon grasping the card at the free end of the series and pulling the same the cards are extending in seriatim outwardly of the panels and the means connecting the cards to each other being such that by swinging each card as extended over the edge of the said other panel so that the outer face thereof constitutes a backing for the card, the said panel edge constitutes a fulcrum to cooperate with said means interconnecting the cards to extend adjacent following cards when successive cards in the series are swung over said edge.

1 in which the said panels are hingedly interconnected, and means for releasably connecting the free ends of the panels to maintain said cover in closed condition.

3. A pocket card file comprising a cover including interconnected substantially coextensive panels normally disposed in overlying relationship'a-nd a plurality of cards interconnected in seri s disposed between and spacing the panels, said cards having dimensions less than the dimensions of the panels and normally being concealed thereby, means interconnecting the cards to each other including a bent up flap extending upwardly from one end of each card and having notches therein defining tongues projecting parallel with and spaced relative to the axis of each said end from which the flap extends, each card having spaced slots therein extending transversely with respect to the axis of the tongues, and having an extent greater than the width of the tongues, the tongues of each flap being disposed in the slots in each card whereby the cards can move relative to one another away from the hinging axis of the flaps to extend the series of cards, said cards normally overlying one another in stacked formation, means connecting the flaps of the card at one end of the series to the inner side of one panel with the hinging axis of the flap adjacent one edge thereof, so that with cards concealed between the panels a pulling force exerted on the card at the free end of the series moves the cards relative to one another to extend the series, and by swinging the extended cards as they pass the edge of the other panel remote from the said first mentioned panel edge, the said edge 2. A pocket card file as defined in and by claim 5 I 6 7 of theother panel constitutes a fulcrum to 00- UNITED STATES PATENTS operate with the tongue and slot connection to Number Name Date extend adjacent following cards when successive 2 064 Daniel Dec. 15 1936 cards are swung over said second mentioned panel 2295952 Jones 151 Sept 15 1942 edge- 5 2397967 'Lenz u A pr. 9, 1946 7 JOHN EDDY- 2,431,472 Fistell Nov. 25, 1947 REFERENCES CITED I FOREIGN PATENTS The following references are of record in the Number Country Date file of this patent: 107,994c Austria Nov. 25, 1927 

